Crime Watch 09.19.24

Man Pistol-Whipped by Mugger

A 51-year-old man reported that at 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, he was sitting on a bench at the rear of 201 W. 93rd St. near Amsterdam Ave. when an individual of unknown gender approached and asked, “Do you have money to buy some drugs?” The man on the bench said “no,” at which the other individual displayed a black firearm and hit the victim across the face with it, causing minor swelling to the victim’s left cheekbone. The victim was treated by an EMS team at the 24th Precinct station house. A search of the neighborhood failed to turn up the suspect, but at least he had taken no property from the victim.

Police Nab Man Who Choked Another in Fight

A 26-year-old man told police that at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, he got into a dispute with a 32-year-old male stranger inside 646 Amsterdam Ave. between W. 91st St. and W. 92nd St. The 32-year-old then put the 26-year-old in a chokehold, applying pressure to the victim’s neck and causing him to lose consciousness. The victim sustained visible marks and physical injuries to his neck as well as his face and complained of pain. Florin Vardari was soon arrested and charged with assault.

Girlfriend Arrested after Lunging at Boyfriend with Knife

According to police, at 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, a 57-year-old man got into an argument with his 33-year-old girlfriend inside 319 W. 94th St. near Riverside Dr. concerning some money that she accused him of taking from her. She then got upset and pulled out a knife and chased him downstairs, threatening to stab him by lunging at him with the knife. A neighbor came to the man’s aid, and they were able to take the knife away from her. Fortunately, no one was injured, but Veneta Clarke was arrested and charged with assault.

Senior Assaulted during Rush Hour Subway Ride

Police reported that at 6:07 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, a 77-year-old man was riding a southbound 3 train when an unknown man entered his train car from the next car and sat down to fix his bags and drink a beer. At the W. 86th St. Station the senior looked at the man, and the man knocked the senior’s phone out of his hand, grabbed his right hand and punched him on the lips, causing a cut to the victim’s lip. The victim also fell to the ground and suffered a bruise on his right eye. Later that day he went to the New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital to get treated with stitches on his lower lip.

Building Resident’s Valuable Racing Bike Stolen and Recovered

A 33-year-old man living at 817 West End Ave. at W. 100th St. said that at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, video surveillance captured a 40-year-old man breaking into the building’s basement bike room and stealing his Cervélo racing bike. The bike had an AirTag tracker, however, and the fleet two-wheeler was soon located at 615 W. 173rd St. in the third floor hallway. The bike frame and wheels were recovered, and Hansel Reyes was arrested on Sept. 9, and charged with burglary. The bike stolen and recovered was valued at $10,000.